National Republican., 1887-02-28
THE SWELLING OF JORDAN.
SUCH IS THE TEXT OF REV. DIR. TAIL
MAGE'S SERMON.
He Repudiates a Fraudulent Sermon
Sent Through the Boiler Plate Medi-
ums-Dihicultfes of Getting Along
without Religion.

BROOKLYN, Feb. 27.-At the tabernacle this
morning a vast throng rose to sing the opening
doxology
praise God, from whom all blessings flow."
After a brief exposition Of Scripture by the
pastor, the Rev. Il. De witt Talmage, d. D.,
and the singing Of a hymn, Prof. Henry Eyre
Browne rendered an organ solo. Sonata
No. 1 in D minor, by Guilmant. The
subject of DR.. Talmsge's sermon was
"The Swelling of Jordan" and his text.
jeremiah xii, 5: "If thou hast run with the
footmen, and they have wearied thee, then
how canst thou contend with horses? And II
in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst,
they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in
the swelling OF Jordan?' The eloquent
preacher said;
Not in petulant but In kindly terms must
complain that wrong has been done me, and
the cause of honest journalism, by pretended
sermon that Is going the rounds OF hurSreds
Of papers with my name appended, sermon,
entitled FRAUDS Detected" Text-Numbers
xxxii, 2s: but If ye will not do SO. behold, ye
have sinned against the Lord and be sure
your sin will find you out" Not one sen
ienSe Of that pretended sermon did preach;
not speak of II. Such a fraud Is not only wrong
to me but to- the gentlemen who, at these
tables. Sabbath by Sabbath, take accurate re-
port OF what is said and done, and Is gross
wrong TO the e20O0newspapersw which give every
week my sermon In full to their readers, and
often at great expense to themselves Tho
only fault | have to find with the newspaper
press of this country is, that they treat me too
well. But l cannot be made responsible for
entire sermons, not one word OF which did
preach But now turn from personal OK.
planation to the more important subject OF the
text.
Jeremiah had become impatient with his
troubles. God says to him "If you cannot
stand these small trials and prosecutions. what
are you going to do when the greater trials aud
prosecutions Gomez II you have been run
you, what chance Is there that you will out
run horses?' And then the figure is changed.
You know, In April and May, the Jordan over
flows its banks, and the waters rush violently
on, sweeping everything before them, And
God saysto the. prophet: "If you are oyei-
come with smaller trials and yexations which
life come in a freshet p 'if in the land OF
peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied
thee, then how wilt thou do In the swelling of
propose. If God will help me, in very
practical way, to ask 4 II IS such difficult
Christ, when things are comparatively smooth,
what willwe do without Christ amid the over
pouring misfortunes and disasters of life that
may come upon us? lftroubles, slow as foot
men. surpass us, what will we do when they
take the feet of horses? And II now In our
lifetime we are beaten back and submerged OF
noiioWb btNhubS NO huNO NhN 'N''S'S' -
Jesus TO comfort MS, what will We do when we
stand in death. and we feel all around about
us 'the swelling of Jordan p The fact that
you have come here. my brother, my sister,
shows that, you have some things you
believe in common with myself.
You believe that there Is God.
There 10 not an atheist in all this house, do
not belieye there ever was a real atheist in all
the world. Napoleon was on ships deck
bound for Egypt 1t was bright, starry night,
and as he paced the deck, thinking ofthe great
Affairs OF the state and of battle, he heard two
men on the deck In conversation about God;
one saying there was a God and the other
saving there was none. Napoleon stopped aud
looked up at the starry heaven. and then he
turned TO these men in conversation, and
said: "Gentlemen, l heard one of Won say
there is no God If there Is no God. viii
you please to tell me who made all thatYd Ave,
II you had not been persuaded of II before you
are persuaded of IL now; for the shining
heavens declare the glory OF God and The
earth shows His handiwork But You believe
more than that; you believe that there was a
Jesus; you believe that there was a cross; you
believe that you have an immortal soul; you
believe that 1t must be regeneraed by the
spirit OF God, or you can never dwell In bliss
eternal. think o great many OfyOu win say
that you believe II is important 70 have the
religion Of Jesus Christ every day OF our life,
10 smooth our tempers and purify our
minds, and hold us impertuThablo amid all the
annoyance and yexasions VI life. You and